Although many believe the date to be
later, Obadiah probably wrote his prophecy about 840 BC. Since his father’s name was not given, it
seems reasonable to suggest that Obadiah was not a priest. For the same reason, it seems possible that he
was not from the family of the kings.
Obadiah spoke to Edom. God gave
this message to Obadiah because Edom had followed a fleshly course for years.
Many practical lessons can be
learned from Obadiah.
1. Sin
hardens one’s heart. In Obadiah, there
is no call to repentance. There is only
a promise of judgment from God. The Edomites had reached
a state where they could not repent.
Their wickedness had become so much a part of their lives that they had
no desire to do right. We, today, can
fall into the same trap.
2. Pride
causes one to be deceived. Speaking for
Yahweh, Obadiah told Edom, “Your proud heart has deceived you, you that live in
the clefts of the rock, whose dwelling is in the heights. You say in your hearts, ‘Who will bring me
down to the ground?’” (v 3). Their pride
caused the Edomites to believe that they were
self-sufficient. It would not allow them
to see their need for God. They that
they would never be defeated. We, today,
can be just as deceived through our pride as were they.
3. God
brings down the prideful. Again, Obadiah
said, “Though you soar aloft like the eagle, though your nest is set among the
stars, from there I will bring you down, says the LORD” (v 4). Because Edom thought they were
self-sufficient, God brought them down.
God destroyed Edom. The Proverbs
state, “Pride goes before destructions, and a haughty spirit before a fall”
(16:18). God still brings down the
prideful.
4. The
LORD judges the nations. Obadiah
declared, “The day of the LORD is near against all the nations” (v 15). Obviously, “the day of the LORD” refers to
God’s judgment. God judged Edom. He judges all nations. Today, all nations are accountable to God.
5. One
reaps what he sows. “As you have done,
it shall be done to you; your deeds shall return on your own head” (v 15). Here, God shows that one must pay for his
deeds. One reaps the consequences of his
actions. The New Testament declares, “You
reap whatever you sow. If you sow to your own flesh, you will reap
corruption from the flesh; but if you sow to the Spirit, you will reap eternal
life from the Spirit” (Galatians 6:7-8).
People still reap what they sow.